It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
